Hong Kong confirms 2nd locally acquired dengue fever case

The Consultant Community Medicine (Communicable Disease) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, announced last week the investigation into a confirmed local case of dengue fever (DF), and hence again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

Hong Kong/CIA

The male patient, aged 54 with good past health, has developed fever, rash, headache, myalgia and arthralgia since November 29. He consulted a private doctor in North Point on November 30. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Ruttonjee Hospital (RH) on December 1 but no hospitalization was required.

His blood specimen tested positive for dengue virus NS1 antigen and dengue virus serotype 1 nucleic acid upon testing by the CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch. The patient has been in stable condition all along and will be admitted to RH tonight.

Initial inquiries revealed that the patient lives in a private building on Wing Hing Street, North Point, and has no travel history during incubation period. He worked in the same work site near Tai Shui Hang Village, Sha Tin, as the previous DF case announced on November 2 who also tested positive for dengue virus serotype 1. He recalled mosquito bites at the work site.

His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.

“The CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and promptly informed the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) for vector investigation and mosquito control. The CHP’s investigations and health education in the vicinity where the patient frequented are proceeding,” Dr Chuang said.

Officers of the CHP will conduct site visit and field investigation by questionnaire surveys at the patient’s residence and workplace for active case finding and arranging blood tests.

To date, 110 DF cases have been confirmed this year, comprising two local (including this case), 106 imported, one unclassified and one case under investigation. Of note, the number of cases recorded so far in 2015 is the highest when compared with corresponding periods in the past decade, from 27 to 109 from 2005 to 2014. In 2014, there were three local and 109 imported cases. In 2013, 103 cases were filed and all were imported.